‘Stranger Things’ actor Dacre Montgomery shares inspiring Instagram post about overcoming obstacles and following your dreams

If you need to hear some inspiration today, "Stranger Things"actor Dacre Montgomery has got your back. Montgomery posted an old photo of himself on Instagram, captioning the pic with a message that's a stronger pick me up than a cup of coffee.
On screen, the 24-year-old plays bully Billy Hargrove who battles with Mind Flayers, but off screen, the Australian actor has struggled with his own real-life demons. Montgomery opened up about the challenges he's faced. He was told he needed acting classes. He was told he should quit acting classes. He was told he needed to lose weight. Despite it all, he never gave up.
RELATED: HBO didn't submit 'Brienne' from Game of Thrones for an Emmy. So, she did it herself
Montgomery's road to success wasn't smooth. "When I was a kid, I was lost. I had a really tough time in school. I was a big kid who loved drama. I never got passing grades, I wasn't popular or a gifted sports player. Girls were never interested in me. I suffered from anxiety from a young age. I was distracted and I wasn't focused," Montgomery wrote.
"I had a dream, I was lucky – I knew what I wanted to do," he continued. "And every night I went home and I focused on that. I visualized a future where my dreams became a reality," he continued. There's something to be said for keeping your eye on the prize.
Ultimately, Montgomery succeeded because he never gave up. "When I had a dream, I was told it wasn't achievable. Well, you know what… I lost weight, I went to drama school and I never stopped wanting it, I never stopped being curious. I never let the failures get me down. Because I believed in myself and I never let anyone tell me otherwise," he posted.
RELATED: Jaden Smith is responding to L.A.'s homeless crisis by launching a free vegan food truck
"You can do anything you set your mind to. So, go out there and get it!" he concluded.
Sometimes, it's easy to get caught up in the obstacles to your goal, but it's important to remember to push through despite it all. We don't know who needs to hear this, but… Never. Give. Up. On. Yourself. Ever.
- 'Stranger Things' sends Kate Bush's 'Running Up That Hill' to No. 1 on iTunes - Upworthy ›
- Why Will's sexuality matters in the new season of 'Stranger Things' - Upworthy ›
- Stranger Things' Dacre Montgomery talks about Billy's 'Sinister' Arc ›
- 'Stranger Things' Star Dacre Montgomery on Billy's Surprising Fate ... ›
- 'Stranger Things' star Dacre Montgomery details difficult acting ... ›
- Stranger Things' Dacre Montgomery opens up on 'tough time' with ... ›
- 'Stranger Things' star Dacre Montgomery opens up about childhood ... ›
- Stranger Things' Dacre Montgomery Gets Real About His Childhood ... ›
- Dacre Montgomery | Stranger Things Wiki | FANDOM powered by ... ›
- Dacre Montgomery - Wikipedia ›
- Dacre Montgomery - IMDb ›
- Stranger Things' Dacre Montgomery's Insane 'Billy' Audition Tape | GQ ›




Woman in denim jacket covers face with sleeve, standing outdoors with blurred background.
Woman with outstretched arms in a sunlit field, enjoying the outdoors.
Lush forest with vibrant green and orange foliage in soft, misty sunlight.
Friends laughing and drinking coffee at a cozy cafe table.
Woman with curly hair in sunlight, eyes closed, wearing a purple top.
Man smiling with hand over face, standing outdoors against a blue sky background.
Hand painting a still life on canvas with blue and orange tones.
Woman sitting on a chair in the water, writing in a notebook at sunset.

Happy Girl GIF by RetMod
Woman enjoying some self care time.
Women walking down a street.Image via Canva Photos.
Woman aware of her surroundings in a parking garage. Image via Canva Photos.
"You're hilariously brilliant at everything you hate."
"Bridget is authentically herself…and triumphs in her own way."
"They're written in some curious language that I can't really understand."